Ahmed Rizvi, The National, DUBAI // The big cats will be roaring into action on the waters just off the Dubai International Marine Club (DIMC) today. And Rory Power, the race director for the XCat Middle East Championship, has promised a gripping show when the extreme version of powerboat racing gets underway. More than 21 teams from around the globe will line up in their rebranded Class 3 powerboats at the DIMC breakwater for the first race of the four-round Middle East Championship. The second race will be held at the same venue on Saturday before the action moves to Abu Dhabi for the final two rounds on April 25 and 29. A Wooden Powerboat Championship will be held the day before all four races and spectators can view the action

free of charge. “You can expect probably the biggest international competition in powerboat racing we have seen for a while,” said Power, also

the race director of the World Professional Powerboat Association (WPPA), which is promoting the series. “You’ve got a lot of new teams from overseas coming in, but the local pilots have got some new boats and equipment, too. The technology has moved on quite a bit since the last round. “There are a lot of very competitive drivers in this year. We’ve got seven local drivers in there and they should do well. “We’ve got teams from France, Sweden, Italy, the UK and the US. There is quite a wide spread, really.” Despite being fourth fastest in testing, reigning world champions Arif Al Zafeen and Nader Bin Hendi will start as favourites. The world’s No 1 powerboat pairing in both Class 1 and Class 3 (Six Series) will team up in the all-new Fazza 3 in a two-pronged attack for the title alongside teammates Talib Al Sayed and Abdullah Al Mehairbi in Fazza 33. But while they come into the event fresh from a double triumph at the opening round of the Class 1 season in Brazil, Al Zafeen and Bin Hendi will need all their renowned skills in what is a brand new boat.